Microsoft posts Office Communications Server 2007 beta

Redmond (WA) - Microsoft has posted a public beta of its Office Communications Server 2007 software.

As successor to the Live Communications Server 2005 and the client software Office Communicator 2005, the new 2007 version is promised to offer enhanced communication capabilities, including an extended instant messaging tool, integration with Exchange Server distribution lists as well as software-based VoIP functionality. According to Microsoft, users now can make, receive and manage voice calls using through the Office Communicator 2007 and initiate multi-party audio/video calls and web conference calls within a firewall.

The Office Communications Server 2007 is compatible with the preceding 2005 version, according to Microsoft, and will also work with the Office Communicator 2005 client.

The beta package is offered free of charge and includes the public beta of the Office Communications Server 2007, the Office Communicator 2007 and Speech Server 2007. The software runs on Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista or Windows XP.